Vaginal estrogen best for bladder

[AuntieMaryMeds]

Hi all

I have been suffering from vaginal atrophy or GSM for a while and have tried various versions of vaginal HRT which all have pros and cons. One of my main problems has been bladder discomfort (feeling a bit like I have a UTI).

I recently switched to Intrarosa but I feel like the bladder problems are creeping back in. My question is therefore does anyone have any experience of trying different versions and found one to be better for the bladder aspect?

I'd also be interested to hear if you've used just one and it's helped bladder discomfort.

Thanks xxxx

@Kitchensinktoday this is a screen shot from the NHS.

It does help stop UTIs in most women, sadly I was one of the one in a hundred.

Some of your symptoms sound like interstitial cystitis. Might be worth looking into? I can't drink any coffees (even decaf), orange juice or drinks with lemon/ginger at all and haven't been able to since my 30s. But any tea or cola is fine. But triggers vary from person to person. Might be worth looking into. Maybe you've got two things going on at once.

Also lurking as am 1 week in to my unbranded topical treatment. Feels odd, can't quite describe it, am bloated too which may be a coincidence of course but it's a bit like having a menstrual cycle again 😕

@Forthethirdyearinarow87 Sorry l just saw you asked me a question a while ago but l have only just seen it. Yes l am on full hrt ( hanging on by the skin of my teeth as my GP would like me off it completely due to my age.) l reluctantly agreed to a reduce the hrt so l now use Ovestin (1 % estriol cream) topically to top up as and when l feel l need it.

What has your age to do with it? In the 15y I have been on HRT, the attitude has changed from "You'll probably use HRT for 5-10y" to "It works for you? You are well on it? No untoward side-effects? Fine, no reason to come of it unless you want to."

@Aparecium Unfortunately some GP's still see it as their mission to get you off hrt after a certain age, and at my surgery their attitude hasn't changed in the 15 years l've been on it. Annoyingly, despite it suiting me with no issues, there's periodically pressure to come off. I always quote the NlCE guidelines which advise that you can stay on it for life, but as my blood pressure was a little high at my last check l was asked to come off again or at least reduce it. l now take hrt every other day but intend to go back to every day as my BP is now OK.

@Seaoftroubles Have they investigated any other reasons why your BP went up?

@Aparecium I had blood tests which were all OK and weight and BMl all fine. The Dr wanted me to monitor my BP so l got myself a Blood pressure monitor and recorded readings for 4 weeks which l submitted to her. They were all in normal range and she thought that anxiety (white coat syndrome) was probably the culprit. She still said she'd prefer me to come off my hrt but agreed to me staying on the reduced dose which l'm doing with no adverse affects so far.

@AuntieMaryMeds how are you now? Did anything work? Did you have constant urgency to wee and frequent urination problems?

Hmm - good question @Sunny866 . Well I persevered with Intrarosa for a while and I did think things were improving but it gave me thrush which I'm struggling to get rid of!!!!!!

Now back on vagirux which are OK but still some issues. I may be getting slightly better but unfortunately not the marked difference that some people see.

@Sunny866 - to answer your question it was like a low level UTI much of the time. No desperate urges but discomfort all the time.

If you are going through the same thing I sympathise. Xxx

Morning! I started the vaginal pessaries about 5 weeks ago for atrophy dryness and apart from causing constipation I am not sure it's done much. Did anyone else get constipated and did it settle down?

Hormone changes can cause digestive issues.
But - and I'm saying this really gently- any ongoing change in your bowel movements should be discussed with a GP as soon as possible. Please ask them for a FIT test, this is really important.

Thanks. It is completely temporally localised with the pessaries, but will discuss with gp as have booked follow up

I tried all sorts over six months. Finally GP gave me estriol cream daily for two weeks, then twice a week. I felt I needed it more because my bladder leaks. So now use it every two days and use the cream daily. I do get thrush still and the odd UTI. It's a juggle of estriol, caneston, and the odd antibiotics. I buy the most absorbent pads from Amazon and use a wad of loo roll for leaks.

From puberty to the grave we're stuffed gynae wise.

I need 3 too. I had a blood test after 2 sachets for years and my oestrogen was still low. The newson clinic said I was a low absorber. 3 makes me feel much better xx

I have bladder problems with my menopause and have started taking HRT (oestrogel). This has really helped my bladder issues.

Early menopause 42,hrt for 17 years, moved house,new gp refused to prescribe , I never suffered from vaginal dryness and assumed because I always had a regular good sex life. 3 years ago,, bladder issues, difficulty voiding,pain, soreness.phone appointments with nurse practitioners, and I had to wait 5 weeks for them. Eventually seen by Dr. Who put me on the emergency 2 week pathway. The couldn't decide gynae or dermatologist,gynae.she prescribed vagifem and estriol cream, and an antibacterial wash which burned
. bladder pain, frequency, every 15 minutes,as soon as I ran the surgery it was bring a urine sample,they were always mad, which I knew would be the case, I've had UTI and kidney infection. I got t to the stage, I couldn't wear lower clothing,(it was recommended by the gynae) when at home, I would sit on the sofa with just a blanket over my lower half, couldn't walk, crying with the pain.i went to a private dermatologist,who diagnosed vulvar eczema,epaderm lotion, heavy duty topical steroids, for 6 weeks, then a slightly lower steroid,until it had stopped. Then it's obvious I have a cystocele a year wait for the gynae appointment.she said severe vaginal atrophy,hrt, but because she didn't write it on the GP letter,it was refused. I have a vaginal ring pessary.. she said every woman needs estrogen. Oddly enough,my DD mil,had a hysterectomy, the following year her bladder prolapsed, she's had several more operations none of which has been successful and she is incontinent. I have become friends with her sil,who had the same thing, hysterectomy,followed by cystocele,followed by 2 more unsuccessful surgeries. Ynar consultant said to me, don't go down the surgery route.
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I read that the hood of your clitoris shrinks which causes the discomfort when anything touches that area like clothing 🙈